far as my experience goes, to the mode of propelling vessels by side paddle-wheels.

Depend upon it, Mr. Editor, the Great Western Company know what they are about. It is no speculative point of questionable advantage upon which the excellence of the screw propeller rests; it is a strikingly superior, as well as an entirely new, invention. Propelling vessels by side paddlewheels, (though not perhaps by steam,) is as old as the pyramids; but it is left to the screw propeller, I firmly believe, to exhibit the real triumph of steam and modern skill on the ocean, over every thing that was ever dreamt of before.

I am, dear Sir, yours truly,

TOM CRINGLE, Jun.

ABSTRACTS OF SPECIFICATIONS OF ENGLISH

PATENTS RECENTLY ENROLLED.

*** Patentees wishing for more full abstracts of their Specifications than the present regulations of the Registration Offices will admit of our giving, are requested to favour us with the loan of their Specifications for that purpose.

EZEKIEL JONES, OF STOCKPORT, MECHANIC, for certain improvements in machinery for preparing slubbing, roving, spinning, and doubling cotton, silk, wool, worsted, flax, and other fibrous substances. Enrolment Office, December 10, 1841.

The first of these improvements is applied to the roving machine, commonly known as the bobbin and fly frame, generally employed for producing the finer rovings, and is designed to obviate the uncertain rotation which occurs in the usual mode of conveying motion by means of the cone and strap.

The second improvement consists in a method of regulating the varying speeds of the bobbin and flyer, so that each succeeding layer may be placed with equal tension, and in regular succession during the filling of the bobbin, from the commencement of the bare spool to its greatest diameter when full.

Another movement is designed to regulate the distribution of layers on the surface of the spool or bobbin.

EDWARD PALMER, OF NEWGATE-STREET, GENTLEMAN, for improvements in producing printing surfaces, and in the printing china, pottery ware, music, maps, and portraits. Enrolment Office, December 12, 1841.

The first of these improvements consists in obtaining printing surfaces on copper, or other metallic or conducting surfaces, by the known power of electrotype, in the following manner. A composition is first made of two parts white wax, two parts lard, and one part of ivory black or lamp black; these ingredients are boiled together, and, when

cold, ground to a proper consistency for painting with olive oil.

A plate of metal, of proper dimensions, is then taken, and the subject required drawn upon it, and submitted to the electrotype process.

The second improvement consists in a mode of obtaining metallic plates with raised printing surfaces, by means of which china, music, maps, &c., may be printed. This process closely resembles the former, but in this case, instead of the black composition, a white one is employed, composed of two parts wax, two parts lard, and one part sulphate of lead.

ROBERT ORAM, OF SALFORD, LANCASTER, ENGINEER, for certain improvements in hydraulic presses. Petty Bag Office, December 12, 1841.

These improvements consist in a simple addition for the purpose of causing the ram to move with greater speed, when light articles are being pressed, until a point is attained when the full power of the machine is required.

For this purpose, a small stationary ram is inserted through the bottom of the water cylinder, into the common ram, which is bored to receive it, and is thus converted into a second cylinder. The interior of the ram may be a cylinder of four inches diameter only, while that of the water cylinder is ten inches; water is, therefore, in the first instance, pumped into the interior of the ram, until the utmost pressure is obtained; the water is then pumped into the ordinary cylinder, when the speed becomes diminished, and the power proportionately increased, say in the ratio of 16 to 100.

There is a provision for admitting water to flow into the outer cylinder, to occupy the vacuum which would otherwise be occasioned by the ascent of the ram.

The claim is to the boring out of the ram to convert it into an interior cylinder, and the introduction of the smaller stationary ram into the same, in order that the strokes of the pump may tell quicker upon the goods under pressure.

JOHN HAUGHTON, OF LIVERPOol, Clerk, MASTER OF ARTS, for improvements in the method of affixing certain labels. Enrolment Office, December 18, 1841. .

This invention has reference to the penny and two-penny new postage labels, and its essential peculiarity is said to be, the placing a letter in a machine which contains a liquid and suitable apparatus for damping, and causing such a motion to a part of the machine, that the liquid shall be brought into contact with the letter, so as to damp the precise fitting motion. And so placing labels and a letter, respectively, in a machine, as to be able to communicate such a motion, that

a label shall be brought into forcible contact with the letter, and be affixed to the exact portion of it previously damped. The distinctive principle of this invention may, it is said, be variously carried out, and three forms of apparatus are described at great length. The first is a small machine, called a damper, in which the upper right-hand corner of the letter is inserted and damped; the second is the stamper, in which the letter previously damped is brought in contact with a postage label, properly disposed, which becomes fixed thereunto by pressure communicated to the upper part of the apparatus. Another form of apparatus, called a labeller, performs both the damping and stamping process.

WILLIAM PETRIE, LATE OF CROYDON, BUT NOW OF CONDUIT-STREET, gentleman, for improvements in obtaining mechanical power, which are also applicable for obtaining rapid motion. Enrolment Office, December 18, 1841.

These improvements consist in the application of the differential pulley or Chinese windlass, by means of a system of internal differential gearing to cranes, windlasses, capstans, &c.

On the terminating crank of an axle are placed two toothed wheels fastened firmly together or made in one piece, both being free to revolve together on the crank. One of these wheels is larger than the other. The smaller wheel revolves in a fixed internaltoothed wheel, supported externally with its centre in a line with the axle, its internal radius being equal to that of the small crank wheel added to the length of the crank. The larger wheel revolves within another toothed wheel fixed by its centre at the extremity of a removeable axle which lies beyond the crank, in a straight line with the cranked axle, so that the internal wheel lies flat against, but does not quite touch the fixed internal wheel. The internal radius of this wheel (which is called the resistance wheel,) is equal to that of the large crank wheel added to the length of the crank. An ordinary barrel is placed upon the axle of the resistance wheel for winding up a rope, chain, &c. When the cranked axle is made to revolve, the resistance wheel will revolve with greater power, and consequently slower, provided that double the length of the crank, multiplied by the difference between the diameter of the small and large cranked wheels, be less than the diameter of the resistance wheel multiplied by the diameter of the small crank wheel. The patentee claims the combination of two wheels of different diameters on a crank, and working into two corresponding internal wheels, so placed, that one being fixed, the other will revolve in the manner described.

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The advantages of this contrivance over the ordinary system of gearing, are stated to be its greater compactness, the unlimited power obtainable by only two moving points besides the axle to which the moving force is applied, and the necessity for very few bearings; and hence its superior simplicity and lightness when great power is required, the whole force being obtained in the space generally allowed for a single wheel.

THOMAS WALKER, OF NORTH SHIELDS, ENGINEER, for improvements in steamengines. Enrolment Office, Dec. 18, 1841.

The patentee states that the object of his improvements is to prevent the exhausting steam of one cylinder, from interfering with the other cylinder while in full power, as he conceives that when the steam of one cylinder is exhausting it will pass through the eduction pipe to the other cylinder where it is not wanted, and destroy, in a measure, the power of that cylinder for a time (the quicker the engines goes, the greater will be the resistance to each piston alternately by the other's exhausting steam); to avoid this, the patentee uses separate exhausting ways, and so prevents the exhausting steam of one from interfering in the least with the others.

We really know not which to admire the most, the extreme simplicity of this invention, or, the brevity of the specification, of which the above is not an abstract, but a copy.

In the drawing accompanying the specification, the two cylinders of a locomotive engine are shown, each having its separate exhaust-pipe proceeding into the funnel.

JOSEPH GAUCI, OF NORTH-CRESCENT, BEDFORD-SQUARE, ARTIST, AND ALEXANDER BAIN, OF WIGMORE-STEET, CAVENDISH-SQUARE, MECHANIST, for improvements in inkstands and inkholders. Enrolment Office, December 21, 1841.

The first of these improvements consists in placing a small force-pump at the bottom of the interior of the inkstand, the piston of which is raised or depressed by means of a screw, or other suitable contrivance; when the piston is at the top of the working barrel, the ink flows into it through small openings made in its side for that purpose, which ink, on the descent of the piston, is forced up a tube into the inkholder, or dipping-place. In a second modification, the piston-rod works through a stuffing-box in the closed top of the pump-barrel, and raises the ink in its upward movement. In a third modification, the pipe leading perpendicularly from the inkholder forms the piston-rod, the piston being affixed to its lower end, and working in a well at the bottom of the inkstand.

A second improvement consists in form

ing the inkstand of a horizontal cylinder, with a projecting spout or dipping-place on one side. When in a position for use, the ink flows into the dipping-place; but when done with, the inkstand can be turned on its axis, the whole of the ink flows back into the interior, and the spout rises up against an ornamental stop, which closes the orifice, preventing evaporation of the ink, or collecting of dust. In another arrangement of this inkstand, the front is a circular glass plate, with a dipping-place, which turns in a fluidtight joint, and allows the dipping-place to be raised up against the stop, as before, while the main body of the inkstand and its contents remain stationary.

The claim is, 1. To a mode of constructing inkstands by applying a force-pump below the surface of the ink, in the vessel containing the ink; 2. To a mode of constructing inkstands by causing the ink vessel, (or part thereof,) containing ink, to move partly round, and, by the gravitating property of the ink, to supply ink to an inkholder for

use.

JOHN LEE STEVENS, OF KING EDWARDSTREET, SOUTHWARK, GENERAL AGENT, AND JOHN KIng, of College-HILL, LONDON, PRINTER, for certain improvements in candlesticks, and other candle-holders. Enrolment Office, December 23, 1841.

These improvements consist in raising the piston or plate, on which the bottom of the candle rests within the socket of the candlestick, by a spiral motion. In some cases, a screw thread is cut upon the prolonged stem attached to the piston; in other cases, a thread, on the periphery of the piston itself, works in a spiral groove within the socket.

A gradual vertical motion is thus given to the piston by means of a screw, instead of being raised, as heretofore, by the direct pressure of the finger. Several different modifications of arrangements for this purpose are shown.

The claim is, 1. To the application of an internal and an external screw, for the purpose of causing a vertical movement on turning the nosel; 2. To the raising the piston, or candle, by means of a spiral screw working within a tube or collar, as described.

ROBERT STEPHENSON, OF GREAT GEORGESTREET, WESTMINSTER, CIVIL ENGINEER, for certain improvements in the arrangement and combination of the parts of steamengines of the sort commonly called locomotive engines. Rolls' Chapel Office, December 23, 1841.

The first of these improvements relates to the disposition and arrangement of the wheels of six-wheeled engines, and consists in disposing the axis of the hinder wheels beneath the hindmost end of the cylindrical part of

the boiler; the said axis passing horizontally across in front of the foremost end of the fire-box, instead of behind the hindmost end thereof. But the straight axis of the foremost wheels is disposed as usual, or nearly so, that is, horizontally across beneath the foremost end of the cylindrical part of the boiler, so as to be beneath the stuffing-boxes of the steam cylinder. The cranked axis of the main or propelling wheels is disposed horizontally across, beneath the cylindrical part of the boiler, at a suitable place in the interval between the foremost and the hindmost axles; such interval being that usually observed in six-wheeled engines. In a locomotive engine constructed agreeably to this improvement, the boiler will be longer than in the ordinary six-wheeled engines, and its evaporative powers proportionably increased.

The second improvement is equally ap plicable to both four and six wheeled engines. It relates to the position of the slidevalves, steam-chest, &c., and consists in placing the slide-valves in vertical planes at the sides of the steam cylinders, so that the direction of the sliding motion of such valve, and the central line of each valve-rod, will intersect the central line of the main axis of the crank at the point where the eccentric is placed. In this case the eccentric rods are joined directly to prolongations of the valverods, without the usual intermediate levers or axes; and one steam-chest, placed between the two cylinders, contains the slidevalves belonging to each.

The third improvement relates to a method of working the feed-pumps for supplying the boiler with water, and is applicable to all engines having two sets of eccentrics for working the slide-valves; it consists in jointing the piston-rods of the two feed-pumps to the half-hoops belonging to the eccentric rods, which are only used to work the slidevalves when the motion of the engine is reversed; so that the short reciprocating motion of these two eccentrics works the feedpumps and keep the boiler supplied with

water.

RECENT AMERICAN PATENT. [From the Franklin Journal.] CURLED HAIR CARDING MACHINE, Francis Harding. Upon a cylinder about 2 feet in diameter, and similar to the cylinder of a carding machine, slats are attached, which are about 2 inches in width, and 4 inches apart-these slats are covered with cards having two or three rows of strong wire teeth set in stout leather, and bent, or hooked, forward. Over the cylinder, attached to arch pieces, are six stationary

slats, provided with teeth similar to those on the cylinder, but with the hooks turned the reverse way. These slats are connected

with the arch pieces by means of springs, so as to give them some play; the teeth on these slats are of the same kind as those of the cylinder, but they are less and less coarse as they recede from the feed apron and approach a brush cylinder, which is opposite a feed apron, by which the machine is supplied.

The claim is to the combination of the stationary and revolving cards, arranged, constructed, and operating as described, and in combination therewith the revolving cylinder of brushes, each brush consisting of a single row of bristles.

The difference between this machine and the carding, or heckling, machines, previously in use, will be manifest from the fact that neither of these machines would perform the operation of picking curled hair; whatever similarity there may be between them, it must be plain that they are by no means identical.

THE LATE GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY

ACCIDENT.

We are informed, and have reason to believe, that we made a mistake in stating, in our last number, that, "just before the starting of the very luggage train that met with the late disastrous accident, the propriety of placing the passengers next the engine and tender" had been fully discussed between the three principal officers of the railway, the engineer, secretary, and superintendant; and that Mr. Brunel represented, at the inquest on the bodies of the sufferers, that the passenger truck had, on that occasion, been actually placed "in the middle of the train." The luggage-train to which Mr. Brunel alluded was, it appears, that of the evening, or rather morning, following the accident. We were led to refer Mr. Brunel's statements, to the luggage-train which actually encountered the accident, from a confusion which prevails as to the times spoken of, in the newspaper reports of the evidence given at the inquest, from which alone our information was derived.

To the question, "Whether any means were provided for enabling the carriages to sustain, without damage, any collision which

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might happen to them?" we remain, and, we fear, are likely ever to remain, without any distinct and satisfactory answer. We believe the only true answer that can be given is-none whatever. Neither on the Great Western Railway, nor on any other which we know of, has any thing like adequate attention been paid to the protection of passengers from the consequences of collisions. Such care as railway directors, managers, and engineers have hitherto taken to provide for the safety of their customers has been almost solely directed to the prevention of such accidents-it being taken too much for granted, on all hands, that, when they do occur, some slaughter, more or less, is inevitable. And yet, most certain it is unless we are to abandon all faith in the resources of science and art-that means may be found to render innocuous the worst collisions which can happen on railways, in the course of their ordinary traffic. It is more a question of expense to the Companies, than any thing else; but the expense of such a system of buffers as we recommended in our last would not be great; and were it even ten times greater than it is likely to be, that ought to be no reason with any company for refusing to adopt it.

NOTES AND NOTICES.

The Smoke Nuisance.-A public meeting is to be held on the 12th of January, at the Music Hall, in Leeds, for the purpose of considering the propriety of adopting some course by which the smoke issuing from the various steam-engines which abound in that neighbourhood can be burnt or prevented. The Hall is to be open on two days preceding the meeting for patentees or other inventors, in priority of application, to arrange for exhibition models, plans, sections, or diagrams, and it is arranged (that the whole question may be thoroughly considered) for each inventor to have an opportunity of briefly explaining his apparatus. Questions may be asked in explanation, but it is not intended to allow the inventors to question each other in public, because such course might lead to personal remarks. W. Beckett, Esq., M.P. for Leeds, has promised to take the chair.

Remarkable Magnetic Disturbance at the Greenwich Observatory.-On the 25th of September last, a most extraordinary disturbance of the magnetic instruments was noticed at the Magnetic Observatory attached to the Royal Observatory of Greenwich. Within eight minutes of time the declination needle changed its position more than 24 degrees (having passed in both directions the range of the observing telescope, which includes the angle), the vertical force was increased by more than 1-40th of its whole value, the instrument having then reached the extremity of its range; and the horizontal force was increased about 1-30th of its whole value. During the appearance of an aurora on the morning

when the needles were in an agitated state, the declination needle in less than three hours traversed an arc of 34 minutes. At 2 o'clock p.m., Gottingen mean time, it was evident that all the needles were affected by some unusual cause of disturbance; and from this time to the discontinuance of the observations (some hours) two persons were constantly engaged, one taking the observations with the vertical force magnetometer, the other those of the declination needle and of the

horizontal force magnetometer. The day (September 25) was cloudy throughout; about 9 h. p. m. a few bright streamers were seen through the clouds, then nothing more till 11 h. p. m., when an auroral arch, about 24 degrees high, was visible for a short time.

Ancient Stocking Frames.-A very singular lot of frames was offered lately by auction, consisting of a number of frames from Godalming, in Surrey. many of them are more than 120 years old. Among the rest we were sorry to observe the celebrated frame "Magog," the widest stocking frame in the world, it being 54 inches on the needles. This giant of a frame was built by Mr. Horton, the noted patentee, in London, about the year 1777. It was originally a knotted frame, and was calculated to make silk breeches, then in the height of fashion. About the year 1790, Mr. Horton being a partner, it was removed to the Keeley factory, Godalming, where it made fleecy blankets and great coats until the year 1838, a period of 48 years. So great was the width, that the London giant frightened all the Nottingham purchasers, and there was never a bid for poor old "Magog." When this is known "half Godalming will be in tears," as he is known to be a "reg'lar good'un." The sale of these frames shows the vicissitute of human affairs. Though the stocking frame was invented at Calverton, yet stocking frames were worked in Godalming before they were in Nottingham, as in 1665 there was only one shop in this place. In the reign of Anne, there were nearly as many stocking frames in Godalming, Guildford, and 17 villages around, as in London.Nottingham Review.

Invention of the Steam Engine.-M. Delecluze has lately made a discovery among the manuscripts of Leonardo da Vinci, carrying back a knowledge of the steam-engine to at least as far back as the 15th century. He has published in the Artiste a notice on the life of Leonardo da Vinci, to which he adds a fac-simile of a page from one of his manuscripts, and on which are five sketches with the pen, representing the details of the apparatus of a steam-gun, with an explanatory note upon what he designates under the name of the "Architonnerre," and of which note the following is a translation:-" Invention of Archimedes. The Architonnerre is a machine of fine copper, which throws balls with a loud report and great force. It is used in the following manner:-One-third of this instrument contains a large quantity of charcoal fire. When the water is well heated, a screw at the top of the vessel which contains the water must be made quite tight. On closing the screw above, all the water will escape below, will descend into the heated portion of the instrument, and be immediately converted into a vapour so abundant and powerful, that It is wonderful to see its fury and hear the noise it produces. This machine will carry a ball of a talent in weight." It is worthy of remark, that Leonardo da Vinci, far from claiming the merit of this invention for himself, or the men of his time, attributes it to Archimedes.-Galignani's Messenger.

Rifles Inferior to Plain Muskets.-Mr. Greener, the author of an excellent Treatise on Fire-arms, affirms that "the supposed advantages of the rifle exist more in imagination than in reality." (Times,

Dec. 20.) "A well-constructed cylindrically-bored barrel will," he says, "project a ball further than the best rifles; under the same circumstances, fully 100 yards further, and that with only a very trifling addition of elevation. The disadvantages of the rifle, as a military arm, are very numerous, and it can only become useful in the hands of a man well skilled in its use; and it is, for this reason, unfit to be placed in the hands of a body of men of indiscriminate ability. So convinced am I of this, that I would undertake to teach any number of men, taken promiscuously from a regiment, to contend, with a well-constructed musket, against any similar number armed with the best made rifle yet produced, quickness and accuracy combined."

Introduction of the Hot Blast in Plymouth Dockyard. Great improvements have been made in the north smithy of this dockyard, in superseding the blowing machines by the introduction of the fire blast, worked by steam-power. All the old bellows are removed from the fires or forges; air pipes, conveying the blast produced by the fans, are fitted in their places, and the working of the fans has commenced. The building, in which are the fans and the steam-engine that drives them, is erected without, adjoining the smithy. The air-drains or tunnels, into which the air produced by the motion of the fans is forced, are dug out of the solid rock, and are carried along through the shop, under the surface of the floor at the backs of the forges, where openings are cut, and pipes introduced to convey the air to the fire. The principle of generating the blast, and its practical utility, have been proved to be far superior to the old method in every respect; for, by the continual and steady blasts of the fan, the heats are much more quickly produced than by the blast of the bellows; consequently, the heats in the course of the day are more numerous, and the metal in heating and forging does not diminish so much. A great saving, therefore, is effected in labour and material, and nearly double the quantity of work can be performed with more than the former facilities. The air-pipes occupy almost as small a space as the noses of the old blowing machines, thereby affording valuable room for additional forges, which the increasing manufacture of anchors at this smithy, and the extra quantity of work capable of being performed, have rendered necessary to be erected, and which could not have been built, had not the old bellows been removed. It was feared that much annoyance would be experienced from the noise of the vibration, caused by the immense velocity at which the fans are driven, which is said to be productive of great inconvenience in other similar constructions. Precautions were taken to prevent this. The fans are enclosed in the smallest possible space by walls; and this, with the solid foundation on which the building stands, and its permanent construction, has had the desired effect, so that not the least noise produced by the working of the fans and engine in this building can be heard in the smithy.--Times.

Intending Patentees may be supplied gratis with Instructions, containing every particular necessary for their safe guidance, by application (post-paid) to Messrs. J. C. Robertson and Co., 166, Fleet-street, by whom is kept the only COMPLETE REGISTRY OF PATENTS EXTANT, (from 1617 to the present time;) Patents, both British and Foreign, solicited. Specifications prepared or revised, and all other Patent business transacted.